Owen graduated from West Henderson High and plans to attend the University of Central Florida to major in pediatric nursing. She will be auditioning for Disney & Universal Studios. Owen is the daughter of Rick and Debbie Owen.

She was a part of the National Honor Society and HOSA and was co-captain of the West Henderson High dance team. She received scholarships to attend national dance competitions in Charleston, S.C. and Las Vegas this summer. She also received a full scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Ballet Intensive program this July.

Odom graduated from North Henderson High and plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill to major in biology and attend medical school. She was selected for a spot on the UNC Dance Team. She is the daughter of Leslie Andrews, and Marshall and Kylee Odom.

Odom was the captain of the North Henderson High Dance Team, a member of Key Club and a scholarship recipient of Dance Educators of America to attend National Dance competitions in Charleston and Las Vegas this summer. She also received a full scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Ballet Intensive program in July.

Holden graduated from West Henderson High and plans to attend AB Tech and then transfer to a four-year university with a major in mass communications and journalism. She will also be auditioning for dance and acting casting calls. Holden is the daughter of William and Mary Holden.

She was co-captain of the West Henderson High Dance Team, a member of FBLA, National Honor Society and Key Club. Holden was a recipient of the Career & Technical Scholars Award and a scholarship from Dance Educators of America to attend National Dance competitions in Charleston and Las Vegas this summer. She also received a full scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Ballet Intensive program in July.

Durvas graduated from Hendersonville High and plans to attend N.C. State University and attend auditions for dance and theater at the university and Disney Studios. She is the daughter of Teresa Durvas and aunt Siobhan Gore. She was president of the Spanish Club and a member of Keywanettes and the Mock Trial Team. Durvas received a full scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Ballet & Musical Theatre Intensive program this July.

Wiley graduated from West Henderson High and plans to attend N.C. State University. She plans to join the dance club and try out for the Dance Team. Wiley is the daughter of Jim and Cyndy Wiley. She was the student life editor for the Westwind Yearbook, a member of the Mock Trial Team and Quill and Scroll Honor Society, and was a N.C. Academic Scholar.

Wiley was the senior youth dance ambassador for DTI for four years, and attended Tar heel Girls State last summer.

For more information about the dance studio, visit patsschoolofdance.com.

Project Linus holds Appreciation Tea

The local chapter of Project Linus held its Appreciation Tea on June 8 at Lutheran Church of the Nativity. This annual event is a way to thank people who give of their time and talent to create handmade blankets for children in crisis.

The program included speakers on spinning wool and making weighted blankets for Autistic children, plus a dance troop from Brevard. Handicrafts created by chapter members were for sale and there was an opportunity drawing.

The local chapter has distributed more than 44,000 blankets during the past 14 years, and there is still a need for additional blankets. If interested, contact Ellen Knoefel, chapter coordinator, at 828-645-8800.

DSS honors foster families at ceremony

Families were recently honored during a recognition ceremony held by the Henderson County Department of Social Services. The ceremony is held in the month of May, honoring "National Foster Care Month."

Current foster families, kinship providers and former adoptive families to come together for an evening filled with food, door prizes, gifts, entertainment and awards.

This year's theme was patriotic. Attendees were invited to come dressed in red, white and blue; military attire; superhero outfit; or any American era. Three face painters were on hand and food was catered by The Ugly Pig BBQ. "Golden Boy-DJ," Fredrick Davis, provided the entertainment.

A great deal of planning goes into the event, as DSS celebrates these families for their dedication and support of children who come into foster care.

During the evening, three families were honored. The first to be recognized was a foster family who has been licensed since February 2012. Arthur and Kayla Bradley started their journey by adopting a child who was kin to them. Now the Bradleys are considering adopting a sibling group of three. They were recognized for their consistent communication skills, their willingness to become involved in shared parenting with the biological parents, and attending the majority of family team meetings, court hearings, counseling sessions and educational meetings.

The next family was an adoptive family who is no longer licensed because they reached the state's capacity of no more than five children, which includes biological, foster and/or adoptive children in the home.

Graham and Ally Myers were foster parents from 2000 to 2007. During that time they impacted many children and were given the chance to adopt four children from Henderson County. Even though they are no longer fostering, they keep up with kids who have been in their home. They were recognized because they are not only committed to the children they adopted, but also other children in the community.

The third family was a kinship provider who, as a single person, took in three small children related to her. Nitiki Kilgore had no idea at the time of placement these children had many medical and development issues. Since taking placement in April 2012, Kilgore has engaged the children in speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychotherapy/play therapy to address their developmental delays and psychological and emotional trauma. She has learned the true meaning of being a "mommy."

DSS recognized that Kilgore wanted to save the lives of three innocent children and give them a second chance at life because she loves them.

Long-term foster parent Beth Ward took a moment to honor birth children who have sacrificed and adjusted well to other children temporarily coming in and out of their home. The award has been named after her daughter, Meredith, who knows first-hand the impact fostering has on a birth child since she's lived it her whole life.

The Ward family honored Kristen Michie, age 10, and Michele Maloney, age 6. Meredith, now nearly 21, is seeking a degree in Social Work at N.C. State.

A segment of the recognition ceremony also included honoring DSS Director Liston Smith, who is retiring in August after 32 years. His staff and the Henderson County Foster Parent Association thanked him for his dedication and many years of service.

Henderson County DSS received door prizes for the event from Flat Rock Playhouse, the Asheville Tourists and Kimberly Clark. The companies contributed something for every family who attended.

<p>2013 senior dance class recognized</p><p>Pat's School of Dance, a local studio in Hendersonville, hosted its annual recitals June 13-15 in the Hendersonville High auditorium. The graduating senior class of 2013 was recognized. </p><p>The five graduating seniors are Elizabeth Owen, Madison Odom, Candice Holden, Elena Durvas and Erin Wiley.</p><p>Owen graduated from West Henderson High and plans to attend the University of Central Florida to major in pediatric nursing. She will be auditioning for Disney & Universal Studios. Owen is the daughter of Rick and Debbie Owen. </p><p>She was a part of the National Honor Society and HOSA and was co-captain of the West Henderson High dance team. She received scholarships to attend national dance competitions in Charleston, S.C. and Las Vegas this summer. She also received a full scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Ballet Intensive program this July. </p><p>Odom graduated from North Henderson High and plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill to major in biology and attend medical school. She was selected for a spot on the UNC Dance Team. She is the daughter of Leslie Andrews, and Marshall and Kylee Odom. </p><p>Odom was the captain of the North Henderson High Dance Team, a member of Key Club and a scholarship recipient of Dance Educators of America to attend National Dance competitions in Charleston and Las Vegas this summer. She also received a full scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Ballet Intensive program in July. </p><p>Holden graduated from West Henderson High and plans to attend AB Tech and then transfer to a four-year university with a major in mass communications and journalism. She will also be auditioning for dance and acting casting calls. Holden is the daughter of William and Mary Holden. </p><p>She was co-captain of the West Henderson High Dance Team, a member of FBLA, National Honor Society and Key Club. Holden was a recipient of the Career & Technical Scholars Award and a scholarship from Dance Educators of America to attend National Dance competitions in Charleston and Las Vegas this summer. She also received a full scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Ballet Intensive program in July. </p><p>Durvas graduated from Hendersonville High and plans to attend N.C. State University and attend auditions for dance and theater at the university and Disney Studios. She is the daughter of Teresa Durvas and aunt Siobhan Gore. She was president of the Spanish Club and a member of Keywanettes and the Mock Trial Team. Durvas received a full scholarship to the University of Las Vegas Ballet & Musical Theatre Intensive program this July. </p><p>Wiley graduated from West Henderson High and plans to attend N.C. State University. She plans to join the dance club and try out for the Dance Team. Wiley is the daughter of Jim and Cyndy Wiley. She was the student life editor for the Westwind Yearbook, a member of the Mock Trial Team and Quill and Scroll Honor Society, and was a N.C. Academic Scholar. </p><p>Wiley was the senior youth dance ambassador for DTI for four years, and attended Tar heel Girls State last summer. </p><p>For more information about the dance studio, visit patsschoolofdance.com.</p><p>Project Linus holds Appreciation Tea</p><p>The local chapter of Project Linus held its Appreciation Tea on June 8 at Lutheran Church of the Nativity. This annual event is a way to thank people who give of their time and talent to create handmade blankets for children in crisis. </p><p>The program included speakers on spinning wool and making weighted blankets for Autistic children, plus a dance troop from Brevard. Handicrafts created by chapter members were for sale and there was an opportunity drawing.</p><p>Project Linus, a national nonprofit organization, continues to seek volunteers to create blankets. New "blanketeers" can contribute knitted, crocheted, quilted, no-sew fleece or flannel blankets. </p><p>The local chapter has distributed more than 44,000 blankets during the past 14 years, and there is still a need for additional blankets. If interested, contact Ellen Knoefel, chapter coordinator, at 828-645-8800.</p><p>DSS honors foster families at ceremony</p><p>Families were recently honored during a recognition ceremony held by the Henderson County Department of Social Services. The ceremony is held in the month of May, honoring "National Foster Care Month." </p><p>Current foster families, kinship providers and former adoptive families to come together for an evening filled with food, door prizes, gifts, entertainment and awards. </p><p>This year's theme was patriotic. Attendees were invited to come dressed in red, white and blue; military attire; superhero outfit; or any American era. Three face painters were on hand and food was catered by The Ugly Pig BBQ. "Golden Boy-DJ," Fredrick Davis, provided the entertainment. </p><p>A great deal of planning goes into the event, as DSS celebrates these families for their dedication and support of children who come into foster care. </p><p>During the evening, three families were honored. The first to be recognized was a foster family who has been licensed since February 2012. Arthur and Kayla Bradley started their journey by adopting a child who was kin to them. Now the Bradleys are considering adopting a sibling group of three. They were recognized for their consistent communication skills, their willingness to become involved in shared parenting with the biological parents, and attending the majority of family team meetings, court hearings, counseling sessions and educational meetings. </p><p>The next family was an adoptive family who is no longer licensed because they reached the state's capacity of no more than five children, which includes biological, foster and/or adoptive children in the home. </p><p>Graham and Ally Myers were foster parents from 2000 to 2007. During that time they impacted many children and were given the chance to adopt four children from Henderson County. Even though they are no longer fostering, they keep up with kids who have been in their home. They were recognized because they are not only committed to the children they adopted, but also other children in the community.</p><p>The third family was a kinship provider who, as a single person, took in three small children related to her. Nitiki Kilgore had no idea at the time of placement these children had many medical and development issues. Since taking placement in April 2012, Kilgore has engaged the children in speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychotherapy/play therapy to address their developmental delays and psychological and emotional trauma. She has learned the true meaning of being a "mommy." </p><p>DSS recognized that Kilgore wanted to save the lives of three innocent children and give them a second chance at life because she loves them. </p><p>Long-term foster parent Beth Ward took a moment to honor birth children who have sacrificed and adjusted well to other children temporarily coming in and out of their home. The award has been named after her daughter, Meredith, who knows first-hand the impact fostering has on a birth child since she's lived it her whole life. </p><p>The Ward family honored Kristen Michie, age 10, and Michele Maloney, age 6. Meredith, now nearly 21, is seeking a degree in Social Work at N.C. State. </p><p>A segment of the recognition ceremony also included honoring DSS Director Liston Smith, who is retiring in August after 32 years. His staff and the Henderson County Foster Parent Association thanked him for his dedication and many years of service.</p><p>Henderson County DSS received door prizes for the event from Flat Rock Playhouse, the Asheville Tourists and Kimberly Clark. The companies contributed something for every family who attended.</p>